Wood Thrush

A large thrush. Bright reddish-brown head, brown back, large dark spots on breast and upper belly.

Habitat:Mature deciduous forest.

Nesting:Builds a large bulky nest on a fork of a sapling or tree, usually 10 feet above the ground. Eggs are light blue. Clutch size – 3 to 4 eggs.

Voice:

Song is a series of whistled flutelike notes preceded by lower pitched repeated notes, “bub bub eee-oh-lay, bup bup ah-o-lee.” Varies pitch of notes with each round of singing. Males sing frequently, especially in the early morning and early evening. Call is a loud “pit pit pit,” like a soft machine gun, given in response to a disturbance near their nest.

Name Origin:

The genus name Hylocichla is from the Greek for "forest thrush." The species name mustelina is from the Latin for “weasel-like,” referring to its tawny color.

In the Nature Park:Neotropical migrant, arrives in early to mid-May, nests in upland forests of the Nature Park.